Study finds mixed‑use redevelopment feasible at Kingston Business Park; recommends east‑side conservation and phased buildout

At the Feb. 25 Community Development Housing Committee meeting, staff presented the completed feasibility study for the Kingston Business Park and outlined key findings and next steps. The report, prepared by an outside consultant (name as referenced in the meeting varied in the transcript and is not consistently recorded), concluded that a conservation‑forward, mixed‑use redevelopment could be possible on the site with phased infrastructure buildout and careful attention to topography and ecology.

Why it matters: the business park is a large, municipally‑owned site with preexisting infrastructure in place from prior investments. Redeveloping it for housing and neighborhood uses could add units to the city’s housing supply while shaping connections to the adjacent state park.

Study recommendations and constraints: staff said the consultant recommended preserving the eastern side of the park to protect the Hudson River view‑shed and to link a contiguous forest parcel to the state park. Development would be concentrated on the west side where a massing review suggests opportunities for mixed‑use housing, public spaces and neighborhood‑serving retail or medical office uses. Staff characterized the recommended approach as prioritizing selective clearing and preserving at least half the site as open space on the east side.

The committee discussed infrastructure and access needs, including finishing Corporate Drive, addressing water and sewer extensions, and providing sidewalks and bus service to make the site viable for residents. Staff said the Kingston Local Development Corporation (KLDC) currently owns the property and that any redevelopment would require a partnership or transaction with the KLDC (sale, lease or other arrangement) and a development partner; roles and responsibilities remain to be determined.

Concerns raised: committee members asked about steep grades and whether public transit (county electric buses) could serve the site, about ADA accessibility for trails and connections, and about subsurface stability where historical mining and caverns exist under parts of the property. Staff said the location proposed for development is, based on earlier analysis, outside the main cave system, but added that further predevelopment geotechnical review would be required.

Next steps: staff said collaboration between the city and the KLDC will be required to determine ownership approach and to identify a developer and financing strategy. The study, staff said, included a rendered massing concept and recommended a phased buildout; staff did not present an adopted plan or a required funding package at the meeting.